She
held my hand and said 'Thank you son!'
I
felt touched. We didn't know each other. We had chanced across each other a few
minutes earlier.
--
I
was about to cross road when I had noticed her standing beside me.
She
was thin and frail. She had a bent posture and looked weak. There were creases
on her face and I could discern her veins through her crumpled skin.
But
still there was something captivating about her. A silent but perceptible determination
emanated from every inch of her demeanor. I looked at her rapt in attention.
Suddenly
I heard sound of screeching brakes. A car zoomed past me and almost ran her
over. She didn't have time to react. The tyres of car missed her feet by
inches. The car sped away.
She
was shaken. Her stuff had been run over. She was trembling.
Instinctively
I stopped the cars behind me and ran over to help her. I picked up her stuff,
waved down a rickshaw, led her to rickshaw, gave rickshawwallah some money, and
asked him to drop her wherever she wanted to.
That's
when she held my hands and said 'thank you son'.
--
I
could not get her off my mind that evening and even next day. Her determination
and genuineness of her thank you stayed with me. Probably I contrasted it with
the other interactions I usually had in a day.
The
next day wore by. I was sipping on my evening cup of tea. I looked out on
street. I saw her. She was walking again – with a slightly bent posture,
gingery steps, and a steely determination.
She was carrying a bag of food that seemed too heavy for her.
I
was tempted to rush and help her but I desisted. She seemed to manage on her own.
Did she even want my help?
I
wondered ´What alis her? She must be 80/90 years old.´
-
Over
last year I have seen her walking in neighborhood a number of times. I chance
upon her walking sometimes at 7 am and other times at 11 p.m too. Everytime I
find her frailer, her posture more bent, but her spirit more determined.
I
often wonder ' Doesn´t she need rest? Why does she keep on walking? '
Maybe
I have answered my own question. She walks because there is no alternative.
She
knows it and is determined to walk her path.
Everytime
I see her I wonder why I sometimes lack courage/energy to choose and walk my
path.
We
must walk. Only choice is 'which path do we walk on?'
I
am reminded of two of my favorite quotes
· 'The more I sweat the more I shine',
· 'Walk firmly and placidly amidst
noise and haste'.
Sourav
